Studies in Fat Grafting. Issue 4 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garza, Rebecca M.; Rennert, Robert C.; Paik, Kevin J.; Atashroo, David; Chung, Michael T.; Duscher, Dominik; Januszyk, Michael; Gurtner, Geoffrey C.; Longaker, Michael T.; Wan, Derrick C.
• Is Part Of: Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Volume 135:Issue 4(2015:Apr.)
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Surgery, Plastic -- Periodicals; 617.95205
• DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000001104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-1052

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background:</title> <p>Fat graft volume retention remains highly unpredictable, but addition of adipose-derived stromal cells to fat grafts has been shown to improve retention. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanisms involved in adipose-derived stromal cell enhancement of fat grafting.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods:</title> <p>Adipose-derived stromal cells isolated from human lipoaspirate were labeled with green fluorescent protein and luciferase. Fat grafts enhanced with adipose-derived stromal cells were injected into the scalp and bioluminescent imaging was performed to follow retention of adipose-derived stromal cells within the fat graft. Fat grafts were also explanted at days 1, 5, and 10 after grafting for adipose-derived stromal cell extraction and single-cell gene analysis. Finally, CD31 immunohistochemical staining was performed on fat grafts enriched with adipose-derived stromal cells.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>Bioluminescent imaging demonstrated significant reduction in luciferase-positive adipose-derived stromal cells within fat grafts at 5 days after grafting. A similar reduction in viable green fluorescent protein–positive adipose-derived stromal cells retrieved from explanted grafts was also noted. Single-cell analysis revealed expression of multiple genes/markers related to cell survival and angiogenesis, including <italic>BMPR2</italic>, <italic>CD90</italic>, <italic>CD105</italic>, <italic>FGF2</italic>, <italic>CD248</italic>, <italic>TGFß1</italic>, and <italic>VEGFA</italic>. Genes involved in adipogenesis were not expressed by adipose-derived stromal cells. Finally, CD31 staining revealed significantly higher vascular density in fat grafts explanted at day 10 after grafting.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>Although adipose-derived stromal cell survival in the hypoxic graft environment decreases significantly over time, these cells provide multiple angiogenic growth factors. Therefore, improved fat graft volume retention with adipose-derived stromal cell enrichment may be attributable to improved graft vascularization.</p> </sec> </abstract>